Abstract
The decision as to whether or not a patient should receive radiation therapy as part of their cancer treatment is based on evidence‐based practice and on recommended international consensus treatment guidelines. However, the merit of involving the patients' individual preferences and values in the treatment decision is frequently overlooked. Here, we review the current literature pertaining to shared decision‐making (SDM) in the field of radiation oncology, including discussion of the patient's perception of radiation therapy as a treatment option and patient involvement in clinical trials. The merit of decision aids during the SDM process in radiation oncology is considered, as are patient preferences for active or passive involvement in decisions about their treatment. Clarity of terminology, a better understanding of effective strategies and increased resources will be needed to ensure SDM in radiation oncology becomes a reality.
Highlights
Several examples of the use of decision aids in radiation oncology shared decision-making (SDM) are reported in the literature with conflicting results
Focusing on radiation oncology endpoints, they illustrated an increase in the number of patients deciding to receive brachytherapy for their localised prostate cancer at a 6 months timepoint, relative to the control group
This review dealing with empowering patients around decision-making in radiation oncology reveals that the current status of SDM within the discipline is ad hoc at best
Summary
Advances in molecular oncology have revolutionised the ability of healthcare professionals to select specific cancer treatments for patients that are most likely to respond, and have aided in treatment guideline development. Patient engagement, patient advocacy and patient involvement are terms that are Abbreviations EBRT, external beam radiation therapy; IPDAS, International Patient Decision Aids Standards; NICE, National Institute of Clinical Excellence; NSCLC, non-small-cell lung cancer; PRO, patient-reported outcome; PROM, patient-reported outcome measure; RP, radical prostatectomy; SABR, stereotactic ablative radiation therapy; SDM, shared decision-making; SMOG, Simple Measure of Gobbledygook; TROG, TransTasman Radiation Oncology Group; VCM, values clarification method
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